USA passes health care bill with Stupak-Pitts Amendment

Washington D.C., Nov 8, 2009(Catholic News Agency).

Late Saturday night, the House of Representatives passed the health care bill with a 220-215 vote. The bill includes the Stupak-Pitts Amendment which prohibits tax-payer dollars from funding abortions.

Commenting on the approval of the amendment, NRLC Legislative Director Doug Johnson recalled that the Obama Administration and congressional leaders "spent months concealing and misrepresenting provisions that would directly fund abortions through a government plan, and subsidize premiums for private abortion plans."

He continued: "Today's bipartisan House vote is a sharp blow to the White House's pro-abortion smuggling operation. But we know that the White House and pro-abortion congressional Democratic leaders will keep trying to enact government funding of abortion, and will keep trying to conceal their true intentions, so there is a long battle ahead."

CNN called the approval of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment a big win for pro-life Democrats as well as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Following the amendment’s approval, the House voted on the entire bill.

It passed 220-215. According to FOX News, 219 Democrats and one Republican were in favor; 39 Democrats and 176 Republicans were opposed.

Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America (CWA) noted that "Although an amendment passed to bar federal funding of abortion, Democrat leaders refused to guarantee that it will be in the final bill. The vote on the amendment may have been a ruse to gain pro-life Democrats vote for the bill."

"This bill will erode the best health care system in the world. In exchange for insurance, we'll lose access to proper health care. We'll lose health care providers who will leave the profession. CWA will fight to protect Americans from this government orchestrated destruction of America's health care system as it now goes to the Senate."

The bill will now be debated and voted upon in the Senate.